Practices win integrated health awards from Prince Charles

The winner of the GP practice category was Patford House Surgery in Calne, Wiltshire, which devised an imaginative project to tackle childhood obesity through local primary schools.

It invited 200 Year 4 children to a Fun Fitness session in January and found that nearly one in four fell outside weight guidelines. This was followed by a 12-week programme. Parents take part in healthy eating sessions, there is even a Michelin-starred chef to advise on tasty dishes, while the children are simultaneously involved in fun physical activities.

The best practice-based commissioning group was STAHCOM, based in St Albans, Hertforshire, which provides a high-volume acupuncture service for osteoarthritis of the knee. Treating four at a time, most patients are 50-80 years old, some previously relying on physiotherapy and lifestyle advice but others facing knee surgery.

Only four out of 42 patients taking part needed to be re-referred for further treatment.

Dr Michael Dixon, The Prince’s Foundation for Integrated Health’s medical director, said: ‘Both these projects are wonderful examples of what integrated health really means – not just treating people when they are sick, but helping them keep as healthy as possible.’